Method of producing upright hollow walls of reinforced concrete



Jan. 26, 1954 L. G. LEANSE 2,666,974

THE METHOD OF PRODUCING u GHT HOLLOW WALLS OF REINFORCED CRETE FiledJune 11, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 26, 1954 Filed June 1.1, 1951 fgj L.G. LEANSE THE METHOD OF PRODUCING UPRIGHT HOLLOW WALLS OF REINFORCEDCONCRETE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 26, 1S54 UNETED OFFICE METHOD 0FPRODUCIN G UPRIGHT HOLLQW WALLS 0F REINFQRCED CONCRETE Claims priority,application Great Britain June 26, 1950 1 Claim.

mattress is filled with concrete, whereupon the inflation of themattress is continued and the concrete is pro-stressed, with the saidreinforcements incorporated therein the mattress being then deflated andremoved.

ihe mattress is provided on either side with vertical ribs which arebrought into engagement with clips welded or otherwise suitably securedto the wire mesh reinforcements and after the mattress has been deflatedand removed, tie bars are inserted between the clips lying indepressions left in the concrete by the ribs on the mattress.

One mode of carrying the invention into efiect is illustrated, by way ofexample and diagram matically, in the accompanying drawings inconnection with the production of a vertical wall.

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the general arrangement for carrying outthe method by which a wall of reinforced concrete is produced. :2,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the wall of reinforced concrete as finallyproduced.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the inflatable mattress, and

Figure 4 is an elevation of a lead lining, which may be used for thepurpose hereinafter explained.

Ref rring to the drawings, A are the shutterings, B wire meshreinforcements, and C an inflatable mattress of rubber or other suitablematerial capable of withstanding the required stresses and pressures ofcompressed air, steam or other gases, or of hydraulic or other pressuremeans. Its opposite sides are connected together reinforcing bars G ofthe same material as the mattress.

C are vertically extending ribs, preferably of wedge or dovetailcross-section, provided on either side of the mattress, and brought intoengagement with clips H of corresponding shape secured to the wire meshreinforcements B, pref-- erably through th interposition of distancerods I welded to the said wire mesh reinforcements and to the clips.

The vertical ribs C taper in the downward direction, as shown in Figure3, and the width of the clips H secured to the Wire mesh reinforcemeritsB varies accordingly, so that the preliminarily inflated mattress can beeasily dropped into and kept in position by wedge action in and betweenthe wire mesh reinforcements. The ribs C may be made of othercross-section than shown, e. g. of circular, oval or rectangularcrosssection, and they are solid or hollow.

After the mattress has been set up in the position shown in Figure 1,the concrete is poured in, either in the usual manner or by pumping itin by a high pressure hose, whereupon the preliminarily inflatedmattress is inflated to the re quisite pressure and the concrete ispre-stressed. When the concrete has set the mattress is deflated and iseasily removed from the concrete.

As shown in Figure 2, the concrete is now formed as a hollow Wall Jhaving wedge-shaped tapering channels J opposite each other running fromtop to bottom and reinforced by the w re mesh B to which the clips H areattached.

The two wall faces J are tied together by steel tie members E and Fdovetailed at each end a l of varying tapered width, inserted into thechannels J in engagement with the clips H at heights corresponding totheir tapered width, the broader tapered ends of ties E holding at thehigher levels, and the narrower ones of the ties F at the lower levels.

The structure obtained by the present invention lends itself to theinsertion into the cavity of the wall, of lead faced panels D (seeFigure 2) part of one of which is shown in elevation in Figure 4,thereby providing a complete lead 1ining as a protection againstradiation from atomic explosions, the lead thickness varying accordingto need. The lead panels are suspended on and held in place, as shown inFigure 4, by the steel ties E and F, which may also be lead coated. Thepanels overlap at the joints as shown in ure 2.

The structure obtained according to the pres ent invention has thefollowing advantages:

The pressures created by inflating the mattress which can be applied tothe concrete surfaces are such as will give added strength, smooth outersurfaces after removing the special smooth faced shuttering, thusobviating the need for subse quent plastering on finish surfaces, and bemore economical in the quantity of concrete needed to give the requiredstrength than by other means. Moreover, by the application of specificpredetermined pressures the concrete is stressed to an extent that hasnot hitherto been possible, thui ensuring (a) minimum wall thicknessesto serve the particular need and effecting considerable savings in theamount of concrete to be used, (b) that the reinforcement is completelyimmersed in the concrete without the hazards of air spaces on or aroundthe reinforcement which with moisture would cause oxidation of thesteel, and consequent deterioration of the reinforcement, and (c) thealignment of the reinforcement throughout the length of the structure.

Further, the method of holding the reinforcing steel mesh in position byafiixing it with clips or the like to the inflatable mattress ensuresabsolute precision in the positioning of the reinforcement moreaccurately and by cheaper means than by any other method.

The advantage of the tapering channels in the cavity between the twosides of the walls is that they ensure great rigidity by the insertionof the ties at any point required to provide adequate bonding of thewall either side of the cavity.

The use of lead panels according to the invention also providesexcellent thermal insulation and affords protection against radiationfollowing atomic explosion.

By using resistance wire suitably affixed to the reinforcing mesh thewall surface may be heated in cases where internal and/or externalheating is required.

The invention is applicable amongst others to the building of houses,public buildings, factories, offices, docks, harbours, marineinstallations of all kinds, boats, pilings, piers, bridges, and otherstructures, and it may be used either for a single wall or multiplewalls as required.

The design of the inflatable mattress may be varied to provide differentsections, and channels or profiles of any kind and any dimension may beplaced between or on the outside surfaces of the concrete or both. Themattress itself may be made of rubber, plastic, expending metal, canvas,nylon, any textile, plastic, composition material or any animal, mineralor vegetable matter.

The panel for protection against radiation may be placed within oroutside the cavity and instead of lead use may be made of any othermaterial fulfilling the same purpose.

The steel ties may be round, square, rectangular or of any othercross-section, and may vary in depth and width to any required extent.

The details for carrying the invention into efifect may be modifiedwithout departing from its scope.

I claim:

A method of producing upright hollow walls of reinforced concretecomprising the steps: erecting shutterings between which the hollow wallof reinforced concrete is to be produced; placing wire meshreinforcements between and near the said shutterings but not in contacttherewith; preliminarily inflating an inflatable mattress provided withmeans for forming vertical downwardly tapered recesses on the innersurfaces of the two parts of the wall of reinforced concrete andmounting the same between the said wire mesh reinforcements leaving freespaces between the latter and the mattress; pouring concrete into thespaces between the mattress and the shutterings, thereby incorporatingthe wire mesh reinforcements in the concrete; inflating to the requiredpressure the preliminarily inflated mattress, whereby the concrete isprestressed; deflating and removing the mattress after the concrete hasset, and inserting tie members between the said two inner surfaces afterthe removal of the deflated mattress.

LEON GERALD LEANSE.

References Cit-ed in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date 1,329,095 Richardson Jan. 27, 1920 1,398,209 VanBavegem Nov. 22, 1921 1,413,404 Hewett Apr. 18, 1922 1,539,550 Emery May26, 1925 1,964,386 Nose June 26, 1934 2,048,253 Freyssinet July 21, 19362,129,769 Jennings Sept. 13, 1938 2,270,229 Neif Jan. 20, 1942 2,542,874Locatelli Feb. 20, 1951

